Page 78 of Crew

“Wow. He’s a great ballplayer,” Dad said.

“He’s an even better man,” I replied. “Right now, only a couple of people know, but it won’t stay a secret for long, so I thought I better let you know before the media reports on it.”

“I’m so happy for you.” Mom sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

I almost told them about Grady, but that wasn’t my story toshare. Crew and Mallory still hadn’t talked to him about Crew being his father, and until they did, I didn’t feel like it was my place to say anything.

“I’d love for you all to meet him,” I added instead. “Maybe we can get together when the season ends?”

“We’d love that,” they both agreed.

We talked for a few more minutes before we finally ended the call, and I tossed my phone on the bed.

Between baseball, my family, and my relationship, life seemed as close to perfect as possible.

And I couldn’t wait to join my boyfriend and his son down by the pool and spend the rest of the day with the people I wanted to build a future with.

30

CREW

One MonthLater

I checked my phone again,even though I didn’t need to. The flight was on time. Mallory and Grady were landing any minute now.

I wanted to text Knox because I was nervous. I needed him to reassure me everything with Mallory and Grady was going to work out. But it was our day off, so he and some of the guys were out to lunch, an occasion I’d usually join in on, but seeing as my son was coming to town for the week for our last homestand, I had other plans. Instead, I pulled up the most recent text message from Knox:

You’ve got this. I’ll see you tonight. Love you

He knew what I was planning. What Mallory and I had discussed a few nights ago. Not only were theystaying at my apartment while in town and I would be at Knox’s place, but Mallory gave me the okay to tell Grady who I really was to him.

I leaned against the railing just outside baggage claim at PDX, scanning the crowd. I spotted Mallory first, pulling her carry-on behind her with one hand while holding onto Grady’s with the other.

The second his eyes found me, he lit up. “Crew!” he shouted, breaking free from Mallory and barreling toward me.

I bent down as he crashed into my chest, his little arms locking around my neck.

“You came to get us!” he squealed.

“Of course I did.” I stood, holding him in one arm while reaching for Mallory’s bag with the other. “What kind of friend makes his favorite kid take a cab?”

“I’m not a kid,” he corrected. “I’m a boy.”

I beamed, shifting him onto my hip. “You ready to see where I live, little man?”

“Do you have snacks?”

“I’ve got fruit snacks and Goldfish waiting in the truck.”

He gasped. “You’re the best!”

Mallory grinned as we headed toward baggage claim. “Just so you know, you’re setting the bar very high.”

“Good. I’m planning to clear it.”

I droveinto the parking garage under my building about twenty minutes later. Grady had talked the whole ride, grilling me with questions from the back seat about how elevators worked, why bridges had lines, and whether you could build a baseball field on top of a building.

At one point, he pointed out the window. “Those are mountains!”